So, I was going to write this blog post about our proposal story, because it had a lot of un-phreaking-believable phood involved, and then the awesome company who is hosting our wedding website (Appy Couple- make sure to check them out!) went and wrote a pheature all about it!
We phancy, right?
Read their story here:
http://blog.appycouple.com/feature/michelle-heart-a-taste-for-romance/
Check it out here
Guess who’s back, phriends?!?
Did ya miss me, because I sure did- missed you, that is, ‘cuz I’ve been with myself this whole time.
I have a litany of arguably legitimate excuses. Pick your phavorite…
So here I am. Let it be known that I have, indeed, continued to photograph every meal, every snack, every bite over my approximated 20 calorie threshold. As the months have passed, I’ve lost the desire to continue the blog, tried to get myself to stop snapping fotos, and then realizing my deep longing to write about it all, tried to get myself back in the blogging swing of things. Then came the writer’s block of how to ease my way back into your hearts, in a charming, disarming and seemingly effortless way. Once I kicked that goal to the curb, I finally got myself to sit down and be nothing but honest.
Hence, I’m back. And it pheels oh so good!
I’m not sure how I will approach my coming posts, but I want to say thanks to you weirdos who have stuck with me through my hiatus. Y’all are phabulous.
My next post will be our proposal story (no this won’t become a wedding blog, other than to showcase the awesome phood we’ve selected for our reception!) but, shockingly, The Phella proposed at a restaurant (weird, right? it’s not like I like phood or anything…) and the phood fotos that evening are equal parts beautiful, comical and bling-ified (if that’s a word… if not then translate to obnoxious pictures of my rock…)
So until next time, which I swear won’t be long, I will bid you adieu!
So what if it’s almost July and I’m just now posting March, right? Right.
Here’s a hasty overview of the highlights:
Is bloggers rehab a thing, because based upon how severely I phell off the blogging wagon, I think I’m a prime candidate.
So until I phind myself a place to check in, I’m voluntarily leading myself through some of the steps… primarily admitting my wrongdoings and making amends to those of you who have continued to phollow me (amazingly despite my hiatus, I’ve gained phollowers and continue to have visitors to the site regularly, so thanks dudes!) Moral of the story: now is the time if you ever wanted something of me… ask away!
Looking back to Phebruary, which seems like an eternity ago, is an intriguing juxtaposition of painful and positive. I attempted to restart the ever so popular Bridesmaids Diet with marginal success. Life threw some curve balls my way, and being the queen of eating my pheelings, I didn’t want to let my subjects down. It’s phunny in a “I just laughed at something so inappropriate that I am certain I’ve just solidified my ticket to Hell” sort of a way, that when it rains, it truly does pour… and in this example, when I say “rain”, I’m talking about the piles of crap that rained down upon me- personally, professionally and whatever other -ally you can imagine.
That being said, it’s now May and I’m in one piece, so I should shut my mouth and appreciate what I am sure were some very “character-building” experiences.
Euphemistic statements aside, let’s talk phood!
There were some rather hefty indulgences around Valentine’s Day, a long weekend Monterey and when Dainty came to visit. Lent came around and this year, I decided on giving up artificial sweetener. That was painful yet positive, I must say! We phrequented a phew restaurants in the Davis/Sacramento area that were exciting (Bistro Michel, Buckhorn Steakhouse, Magpie Cafe, Paesanos, DeVere’s Irish Pub, Our House and Osteria Fasulo) and phound a phew phailures (Ludy’s BBQ, City Tavern and a thrilling highly anticipated breakfast at Delta of Venus… that took an hour to acquire). We went hog wild on our trip to Monterey, sharing meals at Carmel Valley Ranch, Bistro Moulin, Cannery Row Brewing Company, Happy Girl Kitchen, MYO, Cantinetta Luca, Jeffrey’s (needed my benny phix) and From Scratch, with a phabulous assortments of phriends (shout out to Work BFF, Sexy Mexican, Pops and Mommy Dearest and the whole pham damily all at the same table, RIT, Camelle and my phavorite ex-boss and her lovely husband). That weekend was topped off with a trip to my phavorite chain restaurant indulgence- The Olive Garden.
Don’t judge me, we all have one.
In happy news, I am currently unemployed. Ok, not really, but I am a temporary woman of leisure for the next two weeks as I regroup in between a job that was my equivalent of a square peg and an amazing new job that I’ll be telling you more about as the posts get up to datw. Hence why blogger’s rehab starts today. I’m hoping I’ll be cured in record time.
Do y’all phorgive me?
The rumors are true. I actually phell off the phace of the Earth. It was quite an experience, but thanks to these new gravity boots, I’m doing quite well. (That was for you, Dainty…)
So it’s 2012, and the blogging will continue until morale improves… but with a phew changes.
So here’s January. It was a busy month…
We got back from a phabulous 10 day cruise, and coming back to reality was lame to say the least.
The Ducks won the Rose Bowl (The Phella was VERY excited about this, while I could not have cared less. You see, as much as I love him, I am a Beaver… and anyone who knows anything about college sports and the state of Oregon, we are destined to hate one another for life. Ah well, keeps it interesting!)
We both attempted the two week long Special K Challenge. No real positive effects for either of us (not to mention I phound it pretty impossible to stick to, as I’m such a social eater.)
We gained a new pooch, Clover, a spirited and slobbery English Bulldog who will make her debut in phuture posts…
I went to San Francisco and then San Diego to celebrate Dainty’s 30th birthday. Like the phirst ant at a picnic, we’re all taking the plunge this year… so I’ll say it right now. Don’t judge me for what I eat in May when I start to eat my pheelings.
I learned that baking bread in a toaster oven was not the best idea I’d ever had. I also learned that if you simply cut off the part of the loaf that caught on phire, nobody will complain.
Oh, and both of my parents came to visit on separate occasions, hence the justification for the ridiculously gluttonous meals at The Press Bistro and The Mustard Seed… and Monticello Seasonal Cuisine… twice. So not my phault!
No, this is not a special seasonal artisanal ketchup recipe post… although I am sure many lovely posts that meet that description do exist somewhere out there. This, however, is not one of them. This is simply a lazy blogger making good on her commitments, despite her tardiness. So here’s the rest of November, pholks. December coming soon! I apologize for the delay but the new laptop lacks iPhoto at the moment, making it very non-helpful in regard to my blogging pursuits. Such is life. All will be well eventually. That’s a deep thought. I need sleep… or more caffeine.
P.S. The poll is getting great responses, so thank you all! Thus phar, the phront runners for my diet explorations this year are the Mediterranean Diet and the 100 Mile Radius, phollowed closely by Paleo. There is still time to vote (the polls will close this Phriday) so please take a moment to give me your two cents… because Lord knows I am incapable of making decisions on my own. Just ask The Phella… or maybe don’t. It’s a bit of a sticking point between us, well, anytime we need to decide something. So just save me the trouble and vote. Thank ya kindly!
P.P.S. It’s been so bloody long since Thanksgiving (if they gave out lame blogger awards, do you think I’d be in the running? Please say yes!) that it almost seems silly to mention, but I hosted this year, sans oven, and it was a great success! Two turkeys- one deep phried and the other grilled on the BBQ amidst a sea of bubbling Crock Pots. It was a beautiful thing for an oven-less girl like me. Oven Schmoven, I say! Thanks for listening. Just needed to toot my own horn for a moment. 🙂
So, this would be attempt number phour to post this post. WordPress has decided to delete my past three attempts over the last phew days. So excuse me for my terseness and possible typos (and yes, I know not proofreading is an editor’s cardinal sin, and I am an editor, so this isn’t cool)… although I am so darn behind, I suppose it serves me right somehow.
Long, long ago in a phar away land called Davis (actually it was October 22), we had a Pham reunion. Paper Bag was already in town, Boot drove in from SF and Dainty, a mere seven or so hours delayed, arrived via plane. The day started with more of my homemade tomatoe jam.
After breakfast, Paper Bag, Phooey and I took a long walk around the entire UC Davis campus. It well justified my leftovers salad I made for lunch, potatoe salad topping and all!
It also justified us going to a bar in the middle of the day and eating pizza, right? Right. I knew you’d agree.
This particular bar, housed in one of the Best Westerns in Davis, boasts a phamed drink called the Wicky Wacky Woo. They had to be ordered, right? Right. The 151 they pour into the straw was notable, as was the drink’s ability to magically transport me back to the pheeling of being 19 again.
Thank you, college town, thank you.
Once The Pham (minus Snow White) was reunited, we headed out for dinner at Sophia’s Thai Kitchen, with Boot as our designated driver since she announced that she is preggers once we all got together! Hooray for a new addition to The Pham!!! I was too excited by the aforementioned phact to pay attention to what we ate…
Upon return from dining and drinking, we decided to watch UP, the incomparable Disney Pixar collaboration and one of the most beautiful love stories I know. Paper Bag had never seen it, so we stocked up on tissues and hunkered down… I subbed potatoe salad for tissue. It needed to be done, right? Right. I’m so glad we are on the same page!
Paper Bag did not shed a single tear during the movie, confirming previous suspicions that she may or may not have a soul. Maybe I should change her nickname to Soulless Wonder? Just kidding, phriend! We know you have a soul, it’s just hidden behind layer upon layer of ice and stone, of course. 😉
The next morning, we tried out Delta of Venus, a delightfully odd vegetarian haven littered with grad students and those that embrace counter-culture as a phat kid does cake. Loved everything about it, and the Adam’s Special (I think I have the name right) was serrano-tastic!
P.S. If you visit deltaofvenus.com, you get an experience having very little to do with breakfast or vegetarians. Just sayin’… I phound that out very accidentally. Oh, the things you learn when you blog…
We met The Phella for post-breakfast phro yo at Sugar Plum. I went with pumpkin this time (I must say, while I have only sampled three of the eleventy billion phrozen yogurt establishments in this tiny town, I think this place’s phlavors really kick ass… just like unicorns). The stale marshmallows were not exceptionally enjoyable, but they can’t all be winners, kid.
After The Pham went its separate ways, The Phella and I made dinner at home. It started with a potatoe salad appetizer, which was highly necessary.
We tried roasting a head of elephant garlic and eating that with an assortment of cheese and more of my tomatoe jam. Note to self- while bigger is actually better in some situations, it is most certainly not when it comes to garlic. Bad choice…
We grilled up some tasty steaks and smothered them in horseradish and A-1 Sauce. Sometimes, I am classy like that. Don’t even get me started on A-1 Bold & Spicy. Can you tell when I begin to drool while typing?
I wasn’t ready for Monday to come, so phorgot to make breakfast. I ate Phriday night’s leftovers for lunch.
My neighbors invited me over for a BBQ dinner. Will I actually be successful in making some new phriends in this town? Holy awesome, Batman! …Especially because these ones can cook!
On Tuesday, I rode the wave of social non-ineptness and actually went out to lunch with a coworker (the one who’s the big Giants phan!) We had salads at Pluto’s (a spot that had been recommended to me by multiple previous Davisites), and it did not disappoint. Although, I was so excited to have made a phriend, I could have been eating cardboard and not minded a bit. Wow, that sentence just sealed the phate on my phuture possible coolness, didn’t it. Ok, who am I kidding? Being cool was never in the cards for me. I’ll cry about it later. 🙂
I attempted to serve up some young coconut as a pre-dinner snack, but that was an impulse buy I should have resisted. So much work, so little (and so slimy) reward.
Romaine and radish salad…
…and chicken and spaghetti squash for dinner.
Wednesday started with pseudo-sausage.
… and a Reese’s peanut butter cup.
My coworkers invited me to Thai Canteen to celebrate one of their birthdays. I enjoyed some spicy tofu (not bad but Taste of Thai is still my phavorite Thai spot so phar in the area).
I met the phellow I dined with the weekend before (Boot’s baby brother-in-law, actually) at Mikuni in Sacramento for a phish phiesta. I let him do the ordering, so I don’t really know what we ate, other than it was all splendid (aside from the chocolate cake, which I phorced myself to eat one bite of to be polite- mind you, I am sure any normal person would tell you that cake was delicious, but we have established my lack of normalcy, have we not?)
On Thursday, I tried to keep the doctor away.
But in doing so, phorgot to eat lunch. The Phella and I ordered take out from Ding How after I got home from work- won ton soup and pork buns to start (in my awesome new soup bowl/plate combo doohickeys that the kind staff of the Gilroy B&B brought me- have I mentioned lately how much I adore them?)
The soup was super, the pork buns were alright and the mushu was a mistake. Do those look like mushu pancakes to you, or do they look like store-bought tortillas? Exactly.
Asian burritos, anyone? I think I’ll pass…
Phriday was a hectic day, as I spent the morning putting together phinal touches for our Halloween costumes (inspired by the movie, UP), so I ran out of time for breakfast and left my lunch sitting on my kitchen counter. That made for one starving gal when I got home.
Pepper jack and crack to the rescue!
Another romaine and radish salad. Thrilling, I know…
Homemade carrot ginger coconut soup (recipe courtesy of Joy the Baker, who just announced she’s coming out with a cookbook!). Excellent and idiot-proof recipe. We shall all be seeing more of this soup…
We then headed off into the night to attend our phirst of a phew Halloween parties, looking terrifyingly similar to the characters we wished to portray (and equally embarrassing). If I allowed human phaces on my blog, I’d had to show you a picture, but I don’t, so I won’t.
Phew! That was close. I have a reputation to uphold!
Um, wait…
Saturday, October 15th started off with some peas-nuts and a phlurry of cleaning phrenzy, as my mother was coming to visit along with the owners of my phavorite B&B of all time (I know I’ve mentioned this heavenly spot in Gilroy before… you should all be so lucky as to experience the unsurpassed hospitality…)
Once they all arrives, we walked through the Pharmers Market and around downtown until we phound ourselves at Village Pizza & Grill for lunch. I had their goat cheese salad and really enjoyed it.
I also snagged a piece of their prosciutto pizza which was as delicious as they last time I had it.
After a phun-philled day of catching up and hanging every single piece of art in my new home (seriously how did I get so lucky to have such helpful and awesome pholks in my life??), The Phella joined us, and we showed our guests the delight which is Taste of Thai.
We tried a new item- the crab phried rice- which I would never order again, but everything else was delicious as per usual.
The next day, I was so busy (doing what you ask… I have no clue) I phorgot to eat until late in the afternoon at my sorority’s Phounder’s Day Luncheon in Old Town Sacramento (which sorority you ask… the very best one, of course!).
Phueled by the phun of meeting a group of sisters I’d never met, I stayed in Old Town after the event. I met up with a phellow I’d had the pleasure of meeting at Boot’s wedding in April for dinner at Ten22. Needless to say, I phailed MISERABLY with my phirst shot and my attempt to deal with the super low lighting (we sat outside on a patio).
I wizened up and used my phlash when my phig tart arrived. So phreaking tasty!
The highlight of the evening, other than the phabulous company, and other than losing my parking ticket and having the attendant give me a gimme, was that I phound $12 on the ground. Not a bad evening! When I got home, I enjoyed a sugar-phree phudgesicle as I thumbed through a cookbook I bought as a gift for Paper Bag (it’s ok to admit this, as even though it was intended as a Christmas gift, I got a bit too excited and already gave it to her… not sure if I have even mentioned on the blog how much I LOVE- and pride myself on the ability- to give gifts).
Munday…
Healthy lunch in my cube…
Really not so great “creamed” corn dish I made (I blame Martha Stewart for claiming it would be good… it certainly wasn’t my phault!) while I prepped some eggplant to cook for The Phella. Moral of the story- trying a recipe that is a healthy version of creamed corn is a phutile endeavor. Creamed corn is delicious for a reason and attempting to make a skinny version is just not wise.
When I got to The Phella’s house, I had him and this homemade carrot bread waiting for me to sample, courtesy of our new phriend, Phiona. Yum!
Tooozeday…
Seriously, Nathan’s Phamous Pickles live up to their name. True story.
I made grilled chicken and lentils for The Phella’s study group. Sometimes I’m nice like that… sometimes…
If I haven’t mentioned this, my lentils are as phamed and delicious as my Brussels sprouts. If you beg creatively enough, I might just share the recipe… maybe…
Wedenesday…
Leftovers for breakfast/lunch.
Spaghetti squash & goat cheese for dinner… not very good.
Phollowed up with more lentils… very good.
Therrsday…
Egg carnage.
Leftovers plus some tasterific organic grapes- the kind with the edible seeds in them. Love.
Homemade tomatoe jam on carmelized onion bread for dinner. Works for me!
Phriday!
I was so excited that it was Phriday (which meant phriends coming to visit) that I phorgot to eat breakfast and also phorgot to pack a lunch. That meant I didn’t eat until dinner, which was barbecued chicken and assorted accoutrements. The BBQ marked my phirst official social event held at my new pad (which included Paper Bag, the phellow from Sunday night, The Phella and some additional new phriends who I am sure will pop up in phuture posts…)
“Dessert” consisted of me phorcing everyone to try my tomatoe jam. Every claimed it was not only edible but delicious… but it was a captive audience.
And then it was Saturday… woohoo!
Who’s got two thumbs and internet at home? This girl! So by virtue of my last post, I am a schmuck. Hooray for me!
I know, I know, having internet at home is incredibly cutting edge. What can I say? I’m livin’ large- and even considering installing an indoor toilet next. Right after I find an oven…
But man, oh man, is there catching up to be done. So here goes.
Sept 24- Apple for breakfast from Pops’ tree
Quiche Lorraine & Salad at Ciocolat for lunch after shopping/strolling through the Pharmers Market in Davis
Phrozen Yogurt from Cultive in the afternoon heat
Take out from Taste of Thai for dinner so I could have the distinct pleasure of watching the Ducks game <insert sarcasm here>
Phresh Spring Rolls
Tom Kha Soup
Pad Se Ew (Thai Spicy!)
Sunday started with a slice of Jewish Rye I bought at the Pharmers Market, which turned out to be not quite as delicious as I had envisioned…
Leftover Tom Kha soup for lunch
I made Chicken, Lentils & Brussels Sprouts for dinner at The Phella’s house
Monday, Sept 26- The phirst day of the last week before I have a job again 😦 Oh well, all dreams must end at some point or they’d be reality, right?
Started with a perfect poached egg on rye
Ridiculously candy-esque phigs as a mid-morning snack (which I also picked up at the Pharmers Market)- they sort of blew my mind…
… and a watermelon radish & cucumber salad for lunch
Had a mid-afternoon hankering for something warm, so I made some egg drop soup
The Phella wanted Chinese for dinner, so we headed to Ding How (recommended by a previous Davisite)
It only seemed appropriate to try their egg drop soup as well. (Shh- don’t tell, but mine was definitely better)
The Orange Chicken was highly enjoyable!
The Szechuan Beef was so tasty, too!
My Phortune Cookie that told me all my hard work would soon pay off- hooray for me!
I enjoyed some late night popcorn as we watched the phirst Bourne movie (I know, I am SO behind the times…)
Tues, Sept 27
Adorable little melon from the Pharmers Market (which I try to avoid talking about now after making too many awkward comments about the woman at the market with the delicious little melons), cheese curds and rye bread with spun honey
Chicken Salad lunchbox from Nugget, my new phavorite grocery store- seriously, the place is amazing!
Phig Phiesta
Made dinner for The Phella…
Homemade rye croutons on our salad 🙂
A pheeble attempt at healthy breaded pork (I have a LOT to learn about cooking pig that isn’t in bacon phorm…), green beans and green cauliflower mash
Wednesday, Sept 28
Another one of those delicious little melons, cheese curds and a poached egg on toast
More homemade egg drop soup- this time with corn- not as good as the one I made on Monday
For those of you who haven’t known me for that long, or have not yet had the pleasure of my company, I am a borderline obsessed phan of the Nathan’s Phamous Hot Dog Contest that blesses our country each Phourth of July. I plan my day around it each year and can give you an inappropriately in-depth run down of the entire roster of top tier competitive eaters (Eater X… if you’re ever interested, I will ditch The Phella for a night… just sayin’…) So when I saw Nathan’s Phamous brand pickles in the store, I was incapable of resisting.
I met Navs, an old sorority sister, for drinks at Ella Dining Room & Bar. What a great pick! Not only did I get phree valet parking for checking in on Phoursquare, but the phood and atmosphere were awesome. The company wasn’t too shabby either…
I was a bit skeptical when she ordered oysters, but I LOVED them. Who knew mignonette could make such a difference?
The Yellowfin Tuna Carpaccio was phairly amazing, too. (That is a heavenly poached egg perched atop the phish.)
And the meatballs in a cast iron dish weren’t too painful to eat either.
When I got back to Davis, The Phella had a hankering for phro yo, so I indulged. Rather, I threw away, because I have a new phlavor a chance without trying it and that was a major mistake. Cloyingly sweet. Never again. Went in the trash. End of story.
Thursday, Sept 29 started with some more delicious mini melon, cheese curds and a half an English muffin with peanut butter.
I phorgot to stop for lunch with seemingly unending delight that some call unpacking, but I had a mid-afternoon snack to help my eyesight.
I made Chicken Stir Phry at The Phella’s house for dinner.
And as quickly as the week started, it was already Phriday…
phoodfotos 